Smith calls for greater public involvement in WE dock project
Government legislator, Neville SmithDeputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Neville ‘Sheep’ Smith is encouraging residents to come out and voice their opinions at the various public meetings for the West End Ferry Terminal.
The second meeting in a week happened last night and Smith highlighted that the project is not just a West End project but one for the entire territory.
“Everyone will use this port of entry when you come to the BVI. People will be coming from East End, from Sea Cows Bay going West End to go St Thomas,” Smith said.
The Deputy Speaker reiterated that people need to come and see the plans and make their opinions heard so the government can properly address the claims or recommendations.
“Don’t just sit down and criticise and look at the plan and don’t say anything. Be a part of what we are doing now. Now is the time, don’t wait until it is finished then you come and start talking about what should’ve been done and what should not have been done,” he added.
Smith said the government is having the meetings so interested persons can voice their opinions on the ferry terminal. He added that the meetings are also for local contractors to come and see if they can produce the proposed drawings.
“It is very important for us to be a part of this because when you look at what we are trying to do here now, we are trying to encourage our own locals to come out and be a part of the bidding. Don’t look at the plans and think that it is something you cannot accomplish,” Smith said.
“The BVI people are very strong-minded people. I don’t think we need to get anybody to have these plans done and the building built, we can do it ourselves. We just need to team up with each other. It doesn’t have to be someone on the outside. We must team up with each other and get it done,” he stated.
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We wont be speaking to deaf ears
Building a new ferry dock is a waste of time and resources. The current dock is sufficient for the JVD ferries.
A new generation of foiling catamaran passenger ferry boats is here. These foiling ferries will cruise at 40-50kts. between STT, Tortola and VG. There is no need for these high speed ferries to slow down, come off their foils and dock in West End anymore. The voyage time between Charlotte Amalie and Road Town will be approx. 20-25 min. so why interrupt the voyage to stop in West End.
EXACTLY!!!! Fix the damn High School. These people making me sick sick sick.
For the people that want to go to West End??
I’m confused and would be grateful if someone can shed some light on this for me.
“The BVI people are very strong-minded people. I don’t think we need to get anybody to have these plans done and the building built, we can do it ourselves……..”
Wasn’t the German company already paid to draw the plans for the terminal. So exactly what plans will be done by “the BVI people” at this point?
Does this guy smoke his lunch? You already spent $1mil on a Jetsons design now you want local involvement? If I’m not mistaken there were locals that were engaged and provided multiple options for designs of the WE dock and they now sit on a shelf somewhere while the Germans dance and laugh to the bank!
You were supposed to resign from the House of Assembly for not declaring all those contracts you had with government some of which were a year and months old. So if you wouldn’t resign when you are supposed to it make no sense talkkng to you about anything else. You wouldn’t listen anyway.
For the people that want to go to West End??
You not resigned yet as you should have?
We the people of the west doesn’t accept that monument